Events Calendar
In This Section
Famous hobby rocket begins new voyage at museum
UA stadium crews driving toward opening goal
10 runs barely enough in Tribe's win
Patrick McManamon: Varejao's $50 million deal isn't really $50 million
Hospital connects to patients online
Cavs, Varejao agree on six-year deal
YRC, Teamsters reach tentative deal on concessions
Most Read Stories
Akron police investigate teen mob attack on family
Woman, 75, charged with beating fawn to death
Akron woman found dead at Brimfield Township store
Man shot in back near Akron park
Man shot outside his Akron home during robbery attempt
Man admits repeatedly biting 2-year-old
Tragic day puts man on path to be Pinnacle owner
Blogs:
Pets:
Dogs' Bark: Not fair! Study shows pups get jealous
The Heldenfiles:
Who Will Get the Michael Media Treatment Next?
Patrick McManamon:
More on Varejao
Akron Zips:
Opponent outlook: Kent State
Browns Bulletin:
Quick thought on Browns rookies
Tribe Matters:
Wedge challenges relievers
Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth test showed marijuana
Kent State Sports:
Men's Basketball Scheduling update
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Andy’s Signed According to ESPN
All Da King's Men:
Does Medicare Have Lower Administrative Costs ?
Blog of Mass Destruction:
CIA Did Mislead Congress
Akron Law Café:
Breaking Story: CIA Lied to Congress about Secret Program
Varsity Letters:
East basketball update
See Jane Style:
Oh Baby!
Car Chase:
Where do We Go from Here?
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Closings….Not the Good Kind!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Margy inquires-when is a Taste of Hudson?
Sound Check:
LeVert II live performance Saturday night — "Dedication" album due July 13,
HRLite House:
DDI One of Best Places to Work
Akron Gamer:
First 24 'Guitar Hero 5' songs announced
Criminal charges dropped against last two indicted in 2006 death of inmate
By Ed Meyer
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 08:38 p.m. EDT, Sep 11, 2008
The U.S. Justice Department has made initial inquiries about prosecuting the five Summit County Sheriff's deputies charged in the 2006 death of an inmate at the county jail, a prosecutor said Thursday.
Special prosecutor John R. Kosko said a federal prosecution would be a civil rights case based on charges that the deputies used excessive force, causing the death of inmate 7p6,5p9 Mark D. McCullaugh Jr.
McCullaugh, 28, was involved in a violent struggle with the deputies inside his
cell in the jail's mental health unit in August 2006.
Kosko, an assistant Cuyahoga County prosecutor who handled the Ohio prosecution of the five Summit deputies, confirmed the potential Justice Department involvement after charges were dismissed Thursday against the last two deputies facing trial.
Sheriff's Sgt. Brett Hadley, 36, and deputy Brian Polinger, 34, had been scheduled for a joint trial Nov. 12 on charges of reckless homicide.
But after Kosko said prosecutors could no longer proceed against them, visiting Judge Herman F. Inderlied Jr. dismissed the case in a brief Common Pleas Court hearing.
Inderlied's not guilty verdict last month in the trial of deputy Stephen Krendick made the prosecution of Hadley and Polinger ''pointless'' after they waived their right to a jury trial, Kosko said.
Krendick, 35, was indicted on one count of murder, the most serious charge in the case.
Cases against deputies Mark Mayer, 27, and Dominic Martucci, 31, were dismissed last week. Both had been indicted on one count of felonious assault.
Kosko said after Thursday's hearing that FBI investigators have contacted officials at the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation and the Ohio Attorney General's Office within the past couple of weeks.
''My understanding is that they are looking into a possible investigation of this, but have made no commitment,'' Kosko said.
He said the FBI's interest would be similar to the infamous Rodney King case in Los Angeles. ''It would be exactly that,'' Kosko said.
In April 1992, a California jury returned not guilty verdicts on all but one count for four Los Angeles police officers caught on an amateur videotape beating King.
Rioting erupted in Los Angeles after the verdicts.
A federal investigation that began after the beating was suspended when the officers were charged, but resumed following the rioting.
In August 1992, federal prosecutors indicted the four officers, charging they violated King's civil rights by use of excessive force. A federal jury convicted two officers and acquitted two others.
The two officers convicted in the federal trial Sgt. Stacey Koon and Officer Laurence M. Powell were sentenced to 30 months in federal prison.
Scott Wilson, special agent in charge of the FBI office in Cleveland, said he could not confirm or deny that federal investigators have contacted the two Ohio offices about the McCullaugh case.
But Wilson said the local FBI has followed the McCullaugh case ''from the beginning.''
''We're going to take a look at it, and if we deem necessary, a further investigation will be conducted,'' Wilson said.
Once the FBI's involvement is complete, the case would be turned over to the U.S. Attorney's Office for review on a possible federal prosecution of the deputies, Wilson said.
Michael E. George, Hadley's lawyer, called McCullaugh's death ''a terrible tragedy'' compounded by the fact ''that these hero officers got blamed for that death.''
''Nobody expected this man to die. They were trying to help him,'' George said. ''They were trying to get him clothing, they were trying to get him medication, they were trying to get him out of this foul cell, which is all the things we would want for any member of our society who is ill.''
George said the dismissal of the case against Hadley and Polinger ''was justice, as much as we can have it today, being served.''
Ed Meyer can be reached at 330-996-3784 or emeyer@thebeaconjournal.com.
The U.S. Justice Department has made initial inquiries about prosecuting the five Summit County Sheriff's deputies charged in the 2006 death of an inmate at the county jail, a prosecutor said Thursday.
Special prosecutor John R. Kosko said a federal prosecution would be a civil rights case based on charges that the deputies used excessive force, causing the death of inmate 7p6,5p9 Mark D. McCullaugh Jr.
McCullaugh, 28, was involved in a violent struggle with the deputies inside his
cell in the jail's mental health unit in August 2006.
Kosko, an assistant Cuyahoga County prosecutor who handled the Ohio prosecution of the five Summit deputies, confirmed the potential Justice Department involvement after charges were dismissed Thursday against the last two deputies facing trial.
Sheriff's Sgt. Brett Hadley, 36, and deputy Brian Polinger, 34, had been scheduled for a joint trial Nov. 12 on charges of reckless homicide.
But after Kosko said prosecutors could no longer proceed against them, visiting Judge Herman F. Inderlied Jr. dismissed the case in a brief Common Pleas Court hearing.
Inderlied's not guilty verdict last month in the trial of deputy Stephen Krendick made the prosecution of Hadley and Polinger ''pointless'' after they waived their right to a jury trial, Kosko said.
Krendick, 35, was indicted on one count of murder, the most serious charge in the case.
Cases against deputies Mark Mayer, 27, and Dominic Martucci, 31, were dismissed last week. Both had been indicted on one count of felonious assault.
Kosko said after Thursday's hearing that FBI investigators have contacted officials at the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation and the Ohio Attorney General's Office within the past couple of weeks.
''My understanding is that they are looking into a possible investigation of this, but have made no commitment,'' Kosko said.
He said the FBI's interest would be similar to the infamous Rodney King case in Los Angeles. ''It would be exactly that,'' Kosko said.
In April 1992, a California jury returned not guilty verdicts on all but one count for four Los Angeles police officers caught on an amateur videotape beating King.
Rioting erupted in Los Angeles after the verdicts.
A federal investigation that began after the beating was suspended when the officers were charged, but resumed following the rioting.
In August 1992, federal prosecutors indicted the four officers, charging they violated King's civil rights by use of excessive force. A federal jury convicted two officers and acquitted two others.
The two officers convicted in the federal trial Sgt. Stacey Koon and Officer Laurence M. Powell were sentenced to 30 months in federal prison.
Scott Wilson, special agent in charge of the FBI office in Cleveland, said he could not confirm or deny that federal investigators have contacted the two Ohio offices about the McCullaugh case.
But Wilson said the local FBI has followed the McCullaugh case ''from the beginning.''
''We're going to take a look at it, and if we deem necessary, a further investigation will be conducted,'' Wilson said.
Once the FBI's involvement is complete, the case would be turned over to the U.S. Attorney's Office for review on a possible federal prosecution of the deputies, Wilson said.
Michael E. George, Hadley's lawyer, called McCullaugh's death ''a terrible tragedy'' compounded by the fact ''that these hero officers got blamed for that death.''
''Nobody expected this man to die. They were trying to help him,'' George said. ''They were trying to get him clothing, they were trying to get him medication, they were trying to get him out of this foul cell, which is all the things we would want for any member of our society who is ill.''
George said the dismissal of the case against Hadley and Polinger ''was justice, as much as we can have it today, being served.''
Ed Meyer can be reached at 330-996-3784 or emeyer@thebeaconjournal.com.
Let's see how long *this* comment lasts...
no ones comments are staying on. a few kinks in this system.
trying to help him? How? By spraying a whole 16 0z. can of o.c. Ya, they were helping him. No they "cooked him" to death.
Ugh - here we go again...

